Stilyard or balance beam



F. i n D@ 2 y N350 H. A. NICHQLS STLYARD OR BALANCE BEAM Filed Oct. l5, 1954 2 Sllees-Sheerl 1 il.. of of i;

Inventor www H. A. Nici-:OLS

STILYARD QR BALANCE BEAM Filed Oct. l5,l 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in stilyards or balance beams of the type used on small platform or wagon scales used when the gross weight or load is weighed and net. contents are removed and their weight required to be ascertained.

An object of the present invention is to provide such a beam having as a unitary part thereof, a gross beam, a net beam, and a tare-tape whereby the net weight, the gross weight and the tare weight may be readily ascertained without requiring arduous mental calculation on the part of the operator of the scale.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study oi the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational View of the beam showing the position of the parts when it is desired to obtain the gross weight of the load on the scale.

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the location of the parts in determining the net weight of the load as well as the tare weight.

Figure 3 is a top plan View with certain parts shown in section.

Figure 4 is a detail View taken substantially on the line 4-4 oi Figure l.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 5--5 oi Figure l, and

Figure 6 is a detail View taken substantially on the line 6 6 oi Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that I indicates generally the balance or stilyard beam, the same having as an integral part thereof a graduated or gross beam section II. A graduated net beam section I2 is disposed below the gross beam II and is secured to the balance beam I through the medium of blocks I3, the latter at their upper ends being integral with the balance beam I0 and their lower ends being integral with the net beam I2. For the beams II and I2 are provided the usual balance weights I4 and I5 respectively while suspended from the beam I0 at the free end thereof in the usual manner is the weight I6 with which other weights may be associated in obtaining the gross weight oi the load.

An endless, and suitably graduated tare-.tape il of flexible metal or other suitable material is trained over a pair of rollers I8 and I9. One of the rollers, for example the roller I9 is journaled between a pair of vertically spaced arms secured to the right hand block I3 in any suitable manner preferably by being integral therewith.

The other of the rollers or spools I8, is journaled between a pair of vertically spaced arms 2l, that as clearly shown in Figure 6 are provided with reduced ends or portions Zia slidable in sockets 22 in the left hand block i3 and normally urged 5 outwardly with reference to the sockets through the medium of springs 23 for maintaining at all times the tare tape I l under tension and to automatically take up .any slack that might develop in the tape. At a suitable point thereof the tape 10 l1 is secured to the weight I4 as at 2d. It will thus be seen that as the weight I4 is shifted along the gross beam Il the tare-tape Il will be forced to travel lengthwise so that the scale or graduations on the tare tape Il may be read l5 against an integral index 22 provided on the Weight I5. In this connection it will also be noted that the blocks i3 serve as stops for the weight I4.

It will be seen, and as shown in Figure 1 that 20 the scale is balanced with the weight I4 at the extreme left of the gross beam I I and the weight I5 at the extreme right of the net beam I2. In this connection it will be also noted that with the stilyard beam so balanced the index or pointer on 25 the weight I5 will be opposite the zero graduation of the scale on the tare-tape I'I.

It will be further noted that the scale numbers on the beam II increase from the left to the right while the scale numbers on the beam I2 30 increase in an opposite direction or from right to left.

When the gross weight of a load is to be determined, the beam II and its associated weight I4 are used together with whatever additional weight or weights are necessary to be used with the weight I5 to balance the beam ii. The net weight of the load is then determined by removing the net contents of the load from the container and placing said contents on the scale. 40 Then by removing from the weight -i whatever extra weight or weights are necessary to permit the weight I5 to slide along the net beam I2 until the net beam is balanced. The weight I4 is left in the position occupied determining the gross weight. When the beam l2 is balanced, the net weight may be readily ascertained by adding the amount of weight removed from the weight E5 to the scale number of the net beam l2 opposite which the weight I5 comes to rest. 50

It is apparent from the construction of the stilyard that movement of the weight ill directly aiects the position or" the tare-tape il. Consequently the tare-tape can be readily ascertained by reading the scale number of the tare-tape I'I 55 opposite 'which the index or pointer 26 of the Weight I6 is, the relative positions of the taretape I1 and the index 26 dependent respectively upon the position of the Weight I4 in the determination of the gross Weight, and the position of the Weight l5 in the determination of the net Weight.

To illustrate, a load of Wheat is to be weighed, the gross Weight of which has been determined to be one thousand pounds as shown on the gross beam. The tare-tape has moved to the left While the figure one thousand stands directly over the indicator on the Weight i5. The Wheat is removed from the container and placed on the scale; and the net contents are determined by sliding the Weight I5 from right to left until balance is again attained, the net Weight being for example seven hundred pounds. The index of the Weight I5 will show three hundred pounds on the tare-tape, the Weight l 5 will be atrest at the seven hundred mark on the net beam, and the Weight M Will be at rest on the thousand mark of the gross beam.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a stilyard beam, vertically spaced gross and net beams, a Weight slidably engaged Withv each of said beams, a graduated endless tare-tape extending longitudinally of and between said lbeams, supporting means for the tare-tape, and

said tare-tape being connected with the Weight on the gross beam for movement incidental with a shifting of said Weight; and the Weight on the net beam being provided With an index to be read Iagainst the graduation on the tare-tape.

2. In a stilyard or balance beam for scales, a graduated'gross beam, blocks depending from said beam at opposite ends thereof, a graduated net beam supported by said blocks, a slide Weight associated with each of said beams, spools rotat-A ably mounnted on said blocks, a graduated endless tare-tape trained over the spools and having one run thereof connected with the Weight on the gross beam, and an index on the Weight associated With the net beam andadapted to be read against the graduation on the tare-tape.

3. In a stilyard or balance beam for scales, a graduated gross beam, blocks depending from said beam at opopsite ends thereof, a graduated net beam supportedA by said blocks, a slide weight associated With each of said beams, spools rotatably mounted on said blocks, a graduated endless tare-tape trained over the spools and having one run thereof connected with the Weight on the gross beam, and an index on the Weight associated with the net beam and adapted to be read against the graduation on the tare-tape, and spring pressed means supporting one of said spools from its block in a manner to urge said spool'aWay from the otherof the spool to maintain a tension on the tare-tape.

4. In a stilyard for balance beams for scales, a graduated gross beam, blocks depending from said beam at Opopsite ends thereof, a graduated net beam supported by said blocks, spools rotatably mounted on said blocks, a graduated endless Y 

